Your plans are drafted, your budget’s been set, you’re ready to begin your renovation project. All that’s left now is to find a licensed contractor to install everything. But that’s the problem: you need to make sure the contractor you’ve hired is licensed. An unlicensed contractor can cost you much more in repairs on shoddy workmanship, can disappear with your money at any time without completing the job, and can hold you accountable for building code violations or injuries.

Here are some tips you should keep in mind to make sure you’re working with a licensed contractor:

Check the contractor’s license number: Some con artists will use fake license numbers to pass as a legitimate licensed contractor. All contractors licensed in California can be looked up by their license number at the California Contractors State License Board website.

Check the contractor’s workman’s comp insurance: A licensed contractor is required to have workman’s compensation insurance for their workers. If a worker is injured on the job and your contractor doesn’t have insurance, you can be held accountable for that worker’s injuries.

Be alert when making a downpayment: By law, downpayments cannot be more than $1000 or 10% of the project cost – whichever is less. If the contractor asks for more than this amount for a downpayment, they are likely a con artist who will disappear with your money.

It’s very important to make sure you hire a legitimate contractor. B&R Construction has been improving homes in the greater Los Angeles area since 1989, and is licensed, bonded, and insured. Contact us today for a free estimate on your renovation job.